Friday Faves #2

Here are a few of my current obsessions:  

1. We had our first family photo session with Kayleigh McCollum, and I am in love with the photos! I would definitely recommend her! Here's one of my favorites: 

2. My girlfriend suggested these easy-to-clean bibs for Luna and they are fabulous! Especially now that she's eating solids! Its astonishing how much green bean stains resemble baby poo! 

3. The Ikea 2014 Catalog has arrived! I always have mixed emotions about Ikea furniture, but I enjoy mixing in some of their inexpensive pieces with my current furniture.  Speaking of Ikea check this out! Isn't it an amazing hack! People are so creative! 

4. This T-fal electric steamer is awesome! I do not have anything to compare it with because I've never used a stove-top/electric steamer.  But, this works great for making baby food and healthy dinners.  

5.  I am obsessed with finding comfy and stylish stay at home mom clothes (maybe I'll design them myself--just a thought). This beautiful maxi dress with pockets would be great for feeling pretty and moseying around the house. 

6. I am going to learn French! I told my husband that once Luna and I both know French, he has to take us to France (keep in mind she's only 7 months old so I have plenty of time).  In order to actually follow through with it, I am thinking of signing up for French school. 

7. Lastly, here are a few of my current favorite apps.  Paper 53 which is a creative app for sketching, drawing, journaling, etc.  Second, is Wunderlist. I love lists so this app is right up my alley.  Also, if you want to do a little more than lists, I would highly recommend Evernote. I use Evernote for my recipes, party planning, taking photos of documents, etc. 

Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend! 

Semi-Homemade Series: Potroast

When I used to work full-time I was always looking for quick ways to get dinner on the table.  If I made a complicated meal from scratch we would end up eating dinner way too late.  So my solution was to come up with my own semi-homemade meals, and now that I am a stay-at-home mom these meals continue to come in handy! 

Below is my quick take on pot roast. I am not a big meat and potatoes kinda girl, but this is not heavy on the meat so it works out! 

Chop your vegetables into big chunks.  I used Mirepoix (carrots, celery & onion) and fingerling potatoes. My favorite roast is this Hormel Italian Style Beef Roast.  I found it at Target for $4.99.

I use my rondeau pan on medium heat and pour in about 2 tbsp of olive oil then put in your carrots, celery and potatoes.  Also, add your seasonings--salt & pepper to taste.  I like a lot of pepper.  

Once the hearty vegetables are almost done (nicely brown/roasted) add your chopped onions (1/2 an onion). Also, some rosemary (I used fresh rosemary from our garden, but I am sure you can use dry) and lastly 1/2 teaspoon of chili flakes. We like our food a little spicy. 

Microwave your roast for about 3 minutes only since you will be mixing into your pan. 

Then roughly shred the roast.

Next, pour the roast and its juice into your pan and mix with your vegetables, and let it simmer together for a few minutes. 

Now your delicious semi-homemade Pot Roast is ready to be served! 

I usually serve it on its own for my husband and I. Sometimes I mix it up and instead of adding potatoes to the actual roast I make mashed potatoes and serve them as a side dish. Surprisingly you can't really go wrong with this! I've even added asparagus as my green vegetable when I do not have celery.  I am sure you could also serve it with corn or sweet potato! Yum!

It's my Birthday: 21 Things About Me

It's my 35th birthday today! And it's my first birthday as a Mom! So I feel especially grateful for my life, my husband and our daughter.  I am living my dream and feel so blessed, so I have no issues with sharing my age! 

Here are 21 things that you may not know about me:

1. I love the idea of being spontaneous, but I am a planner!

2. I am a very traditional wife. 

3. I hate cats because I am super scared of them!

4. I have an affinity for interior design.

5. My favorite season is Fall. 

6. I have always secretly wanted a little tattoo.

7. I prefer the mountains to the beach. 

8. My husband and I know how to Salsa dance (though we're a lil rusty!). 

9. I love pancakes for dinner. 

10. I read a lot of books! And have been told I read books really fast! 

11.  I was the first woman in my family to graduate from college.

12. I could go without red meat. 

13. I love all things Love, and hate when people hate on it! 

14. I have no sisters so I am always searching for a soul sister. 

15. My favorite music tends to be all Love (i.e. Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Maxwell, Sade, Adele, Frank Sinatra, etc.). 

16. I love being home more than being out and about. 

17. I always thought iProduct lovers were overzealous, until I became one! 

18. I couldn't live without eggs on the weekends.  

19. My house is clean, but my side of the closet is a disaster!

20. My faith is very important to me. 

21. Birthdays are my favorite "holiday."

Lastly, check this out The Secret Language of Birthdays

To all those that share this day with me, I wish you a blessed day and Happy Birthday!!!

Did someone say Birthday presents?

I'm not going to lie--I love receiving presents (and of course giving them as well). And with my Birthday in a few days I can't help but think about birthday wishes! 

What would your dream birthday be like if you had no limits (and a babysitter)? Come on lets indulge. 

This year my dream birthday wish would go like this: 

My day would begin with my husband having the day off! Then the smell of hash-browns & eggs, birthday pancakes and coffee. A few fresh flowers and voila my first present--a Polaroid instant camera so I can add lots of pics to our family journal. The remainder of the morning would be to veg out just the three of us. 

Around lunchtime, get ourselves out the door and head to our local park. We would pick up healthy yummy snacks from Sunflower Drive-In and go sit under a tree while Luna lays in between us playing and enjoying being outside. At this moment, my husband would present me with my second gift from him & Luna--a necklace that represents both of them. 

Once we get home, my husband would announce that he has a surprise and tells me to get ready for a night out! He's asked a trusty friend to babysit and has made us a dinner reservation at The Kitchen. Once our dinner is winding down, my husband presents me with my third present (the best one of all!), he tells me he actually took a few more days off so I could get a break!  

After a fantastic dinner out, we'd arrive home to our beautiful daughter sound asleep with her arms up over her head. 

Oh what a wonderful Birthday wish! The amazing thing is I know my day will be awesome no matter what! And most likely a lot like the above minus the gifts (I have no idea) and well, The Kitchen (new baby = not in the budget, but someday)!

So from a new mom in her thirties point-of-view, the gifts I mentioned above would be awesome! Here are a few more gift ideas that I believe would be great for the woman in your life (be it your wife, mother or friend): 

• A new scent like Bath by Bobbi Brown
• Flowers potted or beautiful peonies
• A mug with a new book or a new magazine
• A comfy sweater for Fall like this or this! 

And of course, I gotta add a techie gift just in case 

• An iPad with all the bells & whistles! 

I would love to hear what your birthday wish(es) would be!